Cedarwood has been around since biblical times (it gets a mention in Leviticus 14.4 and 14.6). The Egyptians used it for embalming the dead. In Tibet it was used for medicinal purposes. My favorite use was by the North American Indians. They used it in their spiritual practices. It became a symbol of protection for the earth. It’s said that at night animals would lie under cedar wood trees for the protection and rejuvenation the trees would bring them. Cool stuff!

It’s an antiseptic and antifungal oil and is considered a diuretic. Cedarwood has purifying and sedative properties. It’s perfect for conditions of the nervous and respiratory systems. Here are some other ideas for using cedarwood:

Improve skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis

Improve cellulite

Prevent hair loss, dandruff

Relieve the symptoms of UTI

Water retention

Relieve the symptoms of bronchitis, cough, congestion

Help with nervous Tension, anxiety, ADHD

Anger

Pineal gland and ajna (third eye) chakra opening

I love to diffuse cedarwood and find it mixes well with rosemary (memory), bergamot (anxiety), and clary sage (hormone balance), among others. Lavender and cedarwood in the diffuser at bedtime is a relaxing combination.This oil can be diluted and applied to the location needed. Add a drop to a dollop of shampoo for hair and scalp issues. Add to moisturizer to help with skin conditions and a drop in the mascara tube to grow eyelashes. Apply to the ajna chakra during spiritual practices.

How do you use cedarwood?

Namaste.

Melissa

This post reflects my own experiences with cedarwood. It is NOT intended to be medical advice. I am NOT a healthcare professional. I’m simply sharing some of the ways I’ve used cedarwood to enhance my personal wellness. Please see your physician for help in treating any of the ailments discussed here.

In numerology the number four builds. That is to say, what the number one conceives, the number two plans, and the number three envisions – the number four brings all this into form. It helps the idea take shape and sets the foundation.

When the four shows up you can be sure there will be order. Success comes through determination, practicality, and concentration. Without the number four the world would be chaotic with plenty of great ideas floating around but not much getting done. Four applies the qualities of management and methodology to all undertakings to bring things together.

A lover of detail, it brings high standards, honesty, and courage to all it does. The four thrives with rules and loves tradition. Four can be a somewhat serious number. It’s a hard worker and sure to get things done, even if it takes more than one try.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the number four is stability. Think of someone who is always there for you in your life. Someone unwavering and steadfast. That person likely has fours in their chart somewhere.

We all need a bit of the number four in our lives. If you want to find out how it shows up for you, contact me for a reading.

Have you noticed that most of what I talk about relates back to the yoga mat? I see many people who want to work on their balance. They mean they want to be able to stand on one foot without falling over. What I know is that standing on one foot will lead to balance in other areas of their lives.

Our culture can be extreme. I think it comes from a desire to have control in a world that seems out of control. Marathon runners, low/no carb diets, workaholics…these are all ways we can be out of balance. The reverse is true as well. Too much screen time, couch potatoes, procrastination are at the other end. Somewhere in the middle is sweet spot.

Yoga uses the gunas to help us find balance. Rajas is the active, driven, passionate guna which is full of ego. Tamas is slower, full of chaos, anxiety, and destruction. Sattva is the harmonious guna, the one in the middle where there is balance, purity, and peace.

We need all three gunas to keep the world moving forward. Our work is to try to stay in a sattvic state more than a rajastic or tamastic state. Use rajas and tamas when needed but strive for the balance that comes from sattva.

Easier said than done, right? This is why I encourage you to come to your mat, breathe deeply, and find a comfortable, easy tree pose. Learn to hold it through any wobbles of the body or the mind. Trust that you’re learning more about balance than standing on one foot. Balance in the body will become balance in the mind and finally in every day life. Or at least most days. After all, balance is a practice too.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my recent video about digging a deeper well. It talked about the idea that instead of abandoning your current path you should dig in and go deeper. I felt that I couldn’t do this topic justice in 60 seconds so here’s more.

We live in a highly “disposable” world. We like instant gratification and when we’re finished with something we often toss it aside. It’s one thing to buy a bottle of water, drink it, and throw away the bottle. It’s another thing to *fill in the blank*, have difficulty with *fill in the blank*, and walk away from *fill in the blank*. Yes, *fill in the blank* could be anything – a job, a relationship, a personal change (like a diet or exercise program), a hobby.

I’ll use yoga as an example. When people first try yoga they attend class for 6 or 8 or 10 weeks. It’s going along quite well. They feel stronger or more flexible. They breathe deeper. And then they hit a wall. The body has adjusted, the mind is clearer, people feel present. All good things, right? So why do so many people stop doing a yoga practice at this point? Because it becomes uncomfortable. This discomfort is because it’s actually changing them at a deep level and change is hard and scary. So they go off to dig another well.

The video asked you to keep digging the same well. When the practice is hard keep practicing. When you get scared take a deep breath and move forward. When you have the urge to throw it all away and learn basket-weaving instead, please remember to love yourself and push through your doubts. It doesn’t have to be perfect all the time. The growth is worth the discomfort, I promise.

I’m not suggesting that you stay in a dead-end job or abusive relationship. I’m asking you to be truthful about why you don’t want to dig this well. Is it truly because there’s no water at the bottom or because you don’t believe you deserve to drink from the well.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. I want to share my experience with CSA’s.

Many years ago I read several books about food that changed the way I viewed the produce on my table. “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver was one of those books. “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan was another. I made the decision for my family that I wanted to eat local first, organic second whenever possible. So, I support as many local food based businesses as I can, including a CSA.

I’ve been in 3 or 4 different CSA’s over the years and each is slightly different. Most require you to pay at the beginning of the growing season for the entire season. Each week you receive a box of produce from what they harvest for 20-26 weeks.

Being in a CSA brings me closer to my food. I’ve learned what grows well here in Indiana. The farmer sends a weekly email about what’s planted, what needs water, what has bugs, what’s doing well, and what isn’t. I get a sense of his process. I can visit the farm and see my food in the ground. I can shake the farmer’s hand and thank him for nourishing my family. I can see how my support helps to nourish his family.

I receive a variety of produce and a lot of it. Not just stuff I want or like but what’s naturally available at any given time over the summer. That sparks my creativity as I plan meals around the massive amount of produce in my kitchen. I often have enough to share with family and friends. I’ve learned to preserve food. We eat produce from the farmer all winter long. And trust me, you’ll never feel as healthy as you do after a summer full of fresh produce.

There are still spots open in my CSA. If you’re interested I’m happy to share details or answer questions. A google search will bring up CSA’s in your area. And if you participate in a CSA now please share your experience with us.

Juicing has been a hippie health practice since the 1960’s. Super green smoothies have become very popular in the last decade. Do both seem a little extreme to you? Do you wonder if there are benefits or if it’s all hype? Do you turn your nose up at anything green?

I teach a class designed to bring understanding to these crazy drinks. There are differences – you juice to meet certain needs and blend (as we call it) for others. There are similarities too. Both are full of nutrients. Both are an excellent way to add servings of vegetables and fruits to your diet. Both can facilitate wellness and healing.

My favorite thing about both is that you can be creative. A juice or blend should reflect what you need, what you like, and what you have on hand. With the right equipment both are easy to make and you’ll find something for everyone in your household. I know dogs who enjoy a good green smoothie from time to time. No, really! They love it.

The best part about the class is that we’ll make a few juices and a few blends so you can taste what’s possible. I’ll send you home with recipes and resources to help you get started. Then you can amaze your family and friends with all kinds of deliciousness.

The next class is Saturday. Sign up here by Friday at 5:00. And watch for another chance to take this class soon.

Oh the joy of the number three! With so much artistic energy and imagination, you’re sure to express yourself under the influence of the three. Three is an emotional number that likes to spend time with family and friends and takes the time to slow down and enjoy the ride. Pleasure is a key principle of three.

When the three shows up in your life it’s a time to use your vision to improve your life and/or the world. You’ll either be inspired or be inspiring. Either way, let the creativity flow! This is a time to turn dreams into reality.

Three loves to love. It has an inclusive feel to it. Many interesting experiences come with a three. A three has a certain flair the other numbers lack.

How does three impact your life? Is it a number that resonates with you? To learn more about numerology and the energy of the number three visit the website. It’s easy to schedule your personalized reading from there.

As a health coach snacking is a subject I cover frequently. I don’t know the statistics but if I had to guess I’d say we are a country of snackers. Food is available to most of us ALL THE TIME. As a result we tend to eat whatever we want, whenever we want.

I apply to following rules to snacks:

Try a glass of water first

Eat a whole food snack when possible

Eat a protein snack some of the time

Make the snack naturally sweet (think fruit)

Snack between meals not instead of meals

Don’t snack after dinner/before bed

We snack mindlessly. Keep a food journal for a few days. You’ll be amazed. Snacking fills time or fills a void in our life. We snack when we feel emotional or stressed or bored. We look to food to fulfill us. Sometimes we snack only because we CAN.

The message I want to convey is YOU DON’T HAVE TO EAT EVERY TIME YOU THINK YOU’RE HUNGRY! Thankfully, these words found me today…

“When hungry, just eat.”

Whenever we eat or drink we have the opportunity to turn our attention to the vivid clarity of this very moment of experience – – if we take time to just eat.

When you’re present make the right choice. Always. If you can stay present when you want to snack, you might decide you don’t want a snack at all. If you do want the snack then be present when you eat it. Make a good food choice and allow the food to nourish you.

It’s Valentine’s Day and I want to write about love. All morning I thought about love. Romantic love.Family love. Love (or attachment to?) of things, places, tastes, feelings. As I sat down to write I became overwhelmed by the depth of this topic. I’m not sure I can say anything that hasn’t been said. Which is exactly why I have to say something. Here it goes.

I think the concept of love is simple. I mean, even very young children can grasp the concept of love. Maybe the world needs to keep it simple (KISS) when it comes to love.

Just love.

Everyone.

All the time.

Why is this so hard for us? I think it’s because we forget that we are love.

See, I believe the Universe and everything in it was created from a loving energy. That loving energy makes up the grass and trees, buildings and cars, you, me, the Universe and God. Love is everything and everything is love. When I love you I also love myself. If I hate you, I must also hate myself. Get it?

We are all the same, from the same loving vibration. We are all one. Love moves through us and surrounds us. We are connected by love. Love is the very essence of who we are, the essence of life.

I say we embrace our true loving nature and spread it everywhere we go. I challenge to try to love someone you don’t find especially lovable and see how it opens your heart. Notice how the more you love the more love you notice.

And I’ll leave you with the simple words of The Beatles…all you need is love, love is all you need.

From a numerology standpoint, the number two has a peacemaker vibe. It asks us to be diplomatic and cooperative. To get the most out of the number two we need patience. The two is sincere and gracious.

What we start under a number one we continue with a two. Partnerships are formed. We gain an understanding that we can work together to achieve goals. There is a sense of cooperation and consideration.

The number two has a spiritual, meditative influence. It thrives in the light. It most often works for the benefit of the many instead of the few.

Does the number two resonate with you? I’d love to share how the number two influences you and how all your numbers guide you on your path in life. Visit the website for information and to set up an appointment.